A 20-member delegation of Nepal's ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) left Kathmandu for China on Sunday, November 15, at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the party said. The delegation is led by RSP General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya.

Source: NepalOnTheWeb

The delegation includes lawmakers Ganesh Parajuli, Hari Dhakal, Kabindra Burlakoti, Lima Adhikari Acharya, Samiksha Baskota and Sagar Dhakal, along with other party representatives. According to RSP spokesperson Jagadish Kharel, the visit is intended to strengthen dialogue between the two parties and explore cooperation in areas that could support Nepal's development.

The two sides are scheduled to discuss good governance, economic development, public service delivery, institutional capacity building and political leadership that responds to public expectations. The programme is also expected to include meetings with Chinese counterparts and visits to institutions and development projects in cities including Beijing, Hangzhou and Sichuan, according to advance reporting of the itinerary.

Before the departure, RSP chairperson Rabi Lamichhane instructed the delegation to assure Chinese leaders that Nepal's territory will not be used against China, according to a party official present at a meeting at Lamichhane's Budhanilkantha residence on Saturday. Lamichhane also advised the team not to place China's Belt and Road Initiative on its formal agenda, and, if Chinese officials raise the issue, to convey that the party takes the initiative seriously and that its implementation should be discussed through high-level mechanisms involving both parties and governments.

Source: KathmanduPati

Prime Minister Balendra Shah also met the visiting lawmakers ahead of the trip and encouraged them to explore cooperation in trade, tourism, technology and agricultural modernisation. Lamichhane separately urged the members to study China's experience in technology, economic development, governance, local administration and disaster reconstruction to identify areas from which Nepal could benefit.

Speaking to journalists at Tribhuvan International Airport, Acharya said the Chinese side would cover the expenses and logistics of the visit, with no expenditure from Nepal's state coffers. The RSP, which leads Nepal's government, described the trip as an opportunity to build mutual understanding and strengthen Nepal-China ties.